Mandevilla plant named ‘FGRRV1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘FGRRV1’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading to strongly vining plant habit; medium green and creamy white variegated leaves that are initially tinged with red; red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla splendens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FGRRV1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla splendens and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘FGRRV1’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Mandevilla splendens ‘Red Riding Hood’, not patented. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant within a population of plants of ‘Red Riding Hood’ grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hawthorne, Fla. in May, 2012. The selection of the new Mandevilla was based on its variegated leaves.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse in Hawthorne, Fla. since July, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FGRRV1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FGRRV1’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading to strongly vining         plant habit.     -   2. Medium green and creamy white variegated leaves that are         initially tinged with red.     -   3. Red purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘Red Riding Hood’, in leaf color as plants of ‘Red Riding Hood’ have solid green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevilla splendens ‘FGVR2’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,814. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hawthorne, Fla., plants of the new Mandevilla differed from plants of ‘FGVR2’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were vigorous than plants of         ‘FGVR2’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had longer internodes than         plants of ‘FGVR2’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had larger leaves than plants of         ‘FGVR2’.     -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla had variegated leaves whereas         plants of ‘FGVR2’ had solid green-colored leaves.     -   5. Plants of the new Mandevilla had red purple-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘FGVR2’ had dark red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevilla splendens ‘FGVP1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,001. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hawthorne, Fla., plants of the new Mandevilla differed from plants of ‘FGVP1’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were vigorous than plants of         ‘FGVP1’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had longer internodes than         plants of ‘FGVP1’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had larger leaves than plants of         ‘FGVP1’.     -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla had variegated leaves whereas         plants of ‘FGVP1’ had solid green-colored leaves.     -   5. Plants of the new Mandevilla had red purple-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘FGVP1’ had pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘FGRRV1’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘FGRRV1’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘FGRRV1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following description were grown during the spring and summer in 2-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial production conditions. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 24° C. Plants were 18 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla splendens ‘FGRRV1’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Mandevilla     splendens ‘Red Riding Hood’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 45 days             at temperatures about 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days             at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Initially upright to somewhat             outwardly spreading and strongly vining plant habit;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 48 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 67.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 42 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm to 5.5 cm.             Strength: Flexible, strong. Texture, young stems: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, developing stems: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, developed stems: Woody. Luster, young stems:             Glossy. Luster, developing stems: Slightly glossy. Luster,             developed stems: Dull. Color, young stems: Close to 145A.             Color, developing stems: Close to 175A. Color, woody stems:             Close to 183A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse with cordate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Center,             random sectors, close to 147B and 147C; towards the margins,             random sectors, close to 158B to 158D; entire surface             overlain with close to 58B; midvein, close to 58A and 58B;             lateral venation, similar to lamina coloration. Fully             expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Center, random             sectors, close to 147B and 147C and 148C; towards the             margins, random sectors, close to 158B to 158D; thin             margins, close to 58B; midvein, close to 158B to 158D;             lateral venation, similar to lamina coloration.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 158B to 158D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers; flowers             arranged in terminal and axillary clusters; flowers face             mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Mandevilla             flower continuously year-round in Florida.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Flowers last about five to             ten days depending on ambient temperature; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused,             five-parted; flowers salverform and roughly star-shaped.             Diameter: About 6 cm to 8.5 cm. Depth (length): About 4 cm             to 5.5 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.5 cm. Tube length: About             3.4 cm. Tube diameter, base: About 4.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Cylindrical, pointed. Color: Towards the base and             apex, close to N57A; mid-section, close to 155B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, fused             into flared trumpet; petals reflexing. Petal lobe length:             About 2.25 cm to 3.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm to             3 cm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex:             Acute. Petal margin: Entire; undulate. Petal texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat and             tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N57A; towards the             base, small spot, close to NN155B. Petal, when opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to N57A. Throat: Close to             9A. Tube: Close to 155B; towards the base, close to N57A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement and appearance: Five per flower in a             single whorl; fused towards the base. Length: About 7 mm to             10 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute; reflexed. Margin: Entire. Texture, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner surface: Close to             145B. Color, outer surface: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Aspect: Initially upright, becoming more outwardly arching             with the weight of the developing flower. Color: Close to             144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,             connivent. Filament length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Filament             color: Close to 155D. Anther shape: Elongated oblong. Anther             length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Anther color: Close to 12A.             Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically             one. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Stigma shape: Oblong to             rounded. Stigma color: Close to 11D. Style length: About             2 cm. Style color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 145A             to 145B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been observed to resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed     to have good garden performance to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures from about 1° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘FGRRV1’ as illustrated and described. 